Author Archives: The Move Makers

5 Helpful Tips for Getting Settled into a New Home

How to Organize Unpacking and New Home Set Up No Comments

First things First

When we help our clients with settling in, we focus first on comfort and safety. To us, this means beds made, first day toiletries and medications unpacked, necessary lamps and clocks set up, pathways cleared and the coffee pot plugged in. Moving is exhausting work and it is important to be ready for that first night in your new home.

Get Connected

If you are unpacking yourselves, we recommend getting technology, entertainment and communication systems functioning next. Listening to music, watching a show, and having access to a connected computer and printer all reduce stress and make the rest of the unpacking process more enjoyable... Read the rest

More Moving Do’s and Don’ts

Move Planning and Management Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

Last August, we brought you some Do’s and Don’ts for a move.  Some bear repeating and others are new suggestions for when you are considering a local, intrastate, or interstate move.  Understanding what to expect, and your role and responsibilities as well as those of the mover, can make the process run more smoothly.

DO the hard work of sorting through your goods and dispose/donate anything you no longer want.  Thinking “I’ll just sort it when I get there” means that you’ll pay extra in both time and money.  Interstate moves are based in part on weight, so you don’t want to pack unnecessary items you don’t need... Read the rest

Thinking Outside The Recycling Box With SCRAP Creative Reuse

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize No Comments

There are many choices besides the recycling bin or Goodwill for household items. One of the more offbeat places to take certain things to be recycled is SCRAP in Portland, a place where crafters, artisans, and teachers go for unique and perfectly usable items. 

SCRAP is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide materials that have been already manufactured to be used for another purpose, often for creative reuse.  An example cited on their website are CD jewel cases transformed into birdhouses, or T-Shirts turned into a rug. It’s a fabulous place for teachers to get inexpensive supplies, and keep these perfectly usable items from the landfill... Read the rest

Energize Your Home With Feng Shui

Move Planning and Management Productivity No Comments

Employing the ancient practice of Feng Shui (“fung shway”)  is a perfect way to establish a fresh, vibrant energy in your new home or reset the energy in your current home.

The Move Makers Project Manager Paivi Panttila Vargas is a certified Feng Shui practitioner, and advises on the positive elements of the practice for those who have been in their home for some time, or wish to incorporate it into a new space..

“Creating a good energy for a new home makes it possible to get settled faster and unlock new opportunities for the new life phase,” said Paivi.  “Feng Shui and other methods like Vastu and Wabi Sabi are there to give you inspiration and guidance on how to look at your home in a new, deeper way... Read the rest

Making Move Day A Little Less Maddening

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

The boxes are packed, the movers are scheduled, the new home is ready for you.  You’ve got the big moving day coming up, but will you be ready?  With a little preparation, move day can be a breeze.  Here are some ways to prepare that you may not have thought about: 

  1.  Pet care – while you’re excited about the move, your pet may be very confused and scared when the door is flung open wide and strangers are toting his favorite couch out to the truck.  Consider an offsite pet sitter or doggie day care for the day, so you won’t have to worry about your pup hiding somewhere or bolting out into the neighborhood. 
.. Read the rest

Pack The Right Way For A Move

How to Organize Move Planning and Management No Comments

When it comes to moving, packing is the task that many people dislike the most.  If all decisions have been made and you have gathered the proper packing materials, the task is much easier. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your beloved items are not only efficiently packed, but safely, too.

Not all boxes are created equal – This may seem obvious, but some items can be damaged if transported in the wrong box. While liquor store boxes with their compartments may seem handy for your stemware, they are often not strong enough to sustain the normal jostling on a moving truck, and their thin sides can buckle easily if something is placed on top or shoved next to them... Read the rest

Keep It or Toss It?

Downsizing and Organizing Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

Here’s a quick checklist of items around the house to consider disposing of or donating before packing for a move.  You might find you get on a roll and clear out a lot more than you thought! 

Kitchen:

Plastic bowls and lids

Chipped or extra dishware

Promotional mugs

Unused appliances, like waffle irons

Excessive glassware

Duplicate kitchen tools

Bathroom:

Old prescription medication – don’t flush them down – the FDA has recommendations here

Expired over the counter medications

Old bath mats

Complimentary hotel shampoos/toiletries – consider a local shelter or charity for these

Stained or torn washcloths or towels – most animal shelters appreciate these

Living Room/Family Room: 

CD’s and DVD’s – there are many streaming services out there

Outmoded electronics and old cables 

Books – often a tough choice – here’s some help in deciding what to keep

Old magazines

Bedroom:  

Excessive clothing – now is the best time to glean what you want

Worn shoes, hats and purses

Old Linens

Broken or tired lampshades

Garage:

Unused camping, skiing and snowboard equipment – consider selling here 

Unused exercise machines or other sports equipment

Half-used potting soils or seeds – consider donating to a garden club

Old or cracked flower pots or planters

If you need assistance on organizing and sorting the things you have in your home before a move, get help from friends or family, or consider professional help with a company like The Move Makers... Read the rest

Why You Should Sort Before You Pack

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize Move Planning and Management Packing and Move Preparation Unpacking and New Home Set Up No Comments

You’ve found the house you love, and best of all, sold the one you’re in.  Now the real work begins – getting ready to move. Your first instinct may be to start packing up everything and organize it later. What you may not realize in your hurry to get the task accomplished is the longer-term negative effects of that decision, like the costliness of time, money and stress.

Here are four points to consider before you decide to pack up for moving day.

Saving Money:  Moving is costly, and whether you’re moving locally (where movers charge an hourly rate, or out of state, where the move cost is based on weight and distance), you should ask yourself if the investment in money up front and the time spent later, is going to be worth it to you... Read the rest

Quick and Dirty Tips to Keep Your Home Tidy and Organized

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We’ve all been there on a sunny Saturday, faced with cleaning a messy house and having an opportunity to do fun things instead on a bright day.  Even if we choose to go out and have fun, sometimes knowing what’s facing us when we get back home can put a little tarnish on what should be a carefree moment.

There are a few quick tips that can keep the house in check if practiced throughout the week.  When practiced regularly, these small actions add up to a tidy house, and a place where you’d be happy to have friends stop by on a moment’s notice... Read the rest

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Home Safety Tip Productivity No Comments

That ice storm in February hit many of us by surprise, and with widespread power outages across the Portland metro region (including The Move Makers office in Lake Oswego), the idea of being prepared for the next emergency event is top of mind for us.  

We’ve compiled a short list of comprehensive websites that list the most important things to have on hand in advance should an emergency take place.  Since these are website links, it may be a good idea to print out the pertinent information and keep on hand in a handy file folder in case you lose power... Read the rest